Whitecaps pitcher Adam Wilk says he won't let Game 2 pressure knock him off his game

MIDLAND -- Adam Wilk has the weight of the West Michigan Whitecaps' season on his shoulders. But the young lefty is up to the challenge.

Wilk will start on the mound for the Whitecaps on Thursday when the team returns home to try to stave off elimination in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs.

The Whitecaps lost 7-2 to the Great Lakes Loons on Wednesday night in the opener of the best-of-three series.

Wilk, 2-1 with a 1.49 ERA in seven starts since joining West Michigan on Aug. 1, said he isn't worried about any extra pressure.

"I'm going to try and not put any pressure on myself and go out there and throw strikes," he said. "I'm going to go out and pretend like it's a normal game, do my job and keep the pressure down to a minimum.

"Hopefully, we can swing the bats well and extend the season."

While West Michigan's season is on the line, Wilk will be pitted against Great Lakes starter JonMichael Redding, the Midwest League's top pitcher during the regular season.

Redding (16-3 with a 4.60 ERA) led the league in wins. He had 96 strikeouts in 133 innings.

Wilk said he won't be concerned about what his counterpart is doing.

"I can't worry about what he's doing. I have to focus on my pitching and finding ways to get their hitters out," Wilk said. "I want to keep my pitch count down and give my team a chance to win."

Wilk, an 11th-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, has displayed steady command this season with only two walks in 36.1 innings.

Whitecaps manager Joe DePastino said he wants the entire team, including Wilk, to relax and play the game.

"I want Adam to go out and pitch his game," DePastino said. "If we hit, we hit. And if he pitches good, he good pitches good. I can't put any added pressure on them right now."

The Whitecaps have been in this situation before.

Last season, they lost the first game to South Bend in the first round before bouncing back to take Game 2 at home in an 11-0 blowout.